Auburn - Cato-Meridian - Moravia - Port Byron - Southern Cayuga - Union Springs - Weedsport

Ratified:  April 5, 1986

Committee

Richard English

Pat White

Carolyn Chappell

Robert Foreman

Amended 1990

Robert Kalweit

Revised 2002

Richard English

Laura Woodworth

Douglas McCall

ARTICLE I        NAME, AFFILIATION, PURPOSE

Section 1 - Name

The name of this non-profit educational organization shall be the Cayuga County Music Educators Association (CCMEA).

Section 2 - Affiliation

This association is affiliated with the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA).

Section 3 - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to advance school music education, in all its aspects.

ARTICLE II        MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Member Schools

Charter member schools of the CCMEA are Auburn Enlarged School District, Cato-Meridian Central School, Moravia Central School, Port Byron Central School, Southern Cayuga Central School, Union Springs Central School, and Weedsport Central School.  Other neighboring districts may petition the CCMEA for membership.  They may participate in CCMEA as outlined in this constitution after a two-thirds affirmative vote of the active members and payment of the year’s participation fee (ARTICLE VII, Section 2).

Section 2 - Active Membership

Any person employed as a music educator by a member school, upon registering with the CCMEA president as a vocal and/or instrumental teacher and having attended one general business meeting shall be considered an active member.  In order to retain active membership, the member must attend at least one general business meeting per year.  All active members have voting rights as described in ARTICLE V.

Section 3 - Interested Parties

Any interested parties, including teachers who have not met the above requirements, may attend meetings as observers.  If recognized by the CCMEA president, these parties may address the group.  These parties have no voting rights.

Section 4 - Withdrawal

A member school may withdraw from CCMEA upon written notification from the music department or administrator to the president of CCMEA.  Such notification must be given by February 1 for the following school year.

ARTICLE III        OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT

Section 1 - Officers

The officers of the CCMEA shall consist of a president, a vice-president in charge of vocal activities (this person should be registered as a vocal teacher), a vice-president in charge of instrumental activities (this person should be registered as an instrument teacher), a treasurer, and a secretary.  No person shall be elected an officer of CCMEA who is not an active member of CCMEA.

Section 2 - Term of Office

Officers will serve a one year term beginning on July 1st and terminating on June 30th.  A person may hold the same office for no longer than three terms, but may be elected to that same office again after a three year period.

Section 3 - Elections

A slate of officers will be presented to the membership by the nominating committee at the Spring All-County meeting.  Additional nominations for officers may be made from the floor at the Spring All-County meeting.  Ballots will be sent to all active members which should be returned to the secretary by June 1st.  the ballots will be tabulated by the president and the secretary.  A majority of votes cast will elect a candidate and the president will disseminate the results to the membership.

Section 4 - Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy of one of the offices during the course of the year, the following formats will be used:

(a) President - The vice-president with the longest tenure in the county will become the

president.  (If both vice-presidents have the same tenure in the county, then the vice-president that has served as a CCMEA officer the longest will become the president.)  The remaining vice-president will assume the roles of both vice-presidents until a new vice-president is elected as per ARTICLE III, Section 4-c (other officers).

(b) Treasurer - The vice-president with the shortest tenure in the county will become the treasurer.  (If both vice-presidents have the same tenure in the county, then the vice-president that has served as a CCMEA officer the shortest will become the treasurer.)  The remaining vice-president will assume the roles of both vice-presidents until a new vice-president is elected as per ARTICLE III, Section 4-c (other officers).

(c) Other officers - Elections will be held as soon as possible after the vacancy occurs at a general business meeting.  No ballots will be distributed.  A simple majority of the votes cast will elect a candidate with that person assuming all the responsibilities of the office immediately.

Section 5 - Legislative Powers

The legislative power of the association shall be invested in the membership.

ARTICLE IV        MEETINGS

Section 1 - General Business Meetings

There shall be at least four general business meetings during the course of the year, with at least one meeting taking place prior to the Fall All-County Festival.  Additional meetings may be scheduled as deemed necessary by the president.

Section 2 - Notification of Meetings

there will be written notification of the time, place and agenda of meetings at least one week in advance of the meeting.

Section 3 - Quorum

A quorum of at least five active members must be in attendance for an official general business meeting.  Those active members must represent more than one half of the member schools.

ARTICLE V        VOTING

Section 1 - Voting Rights

Voting rights are extended to all active members with a simple majority determining the outcome of the vote.  The president will vote only in the event of a tie.

Section 2 - Major Issues

Decisions on major issues will be by ballot.  Major issues include elections, amendments to the constitution, amendments to the by-laws, and the budget.  Motions for these will be introduced at a general business meeting.  Ballots will be sent to all active members which should be returned to the secretary at least 24 hours in advance of the next meeting.  The ballots will be tabulated by the secretary and the president and results will be announced at the meeting.

Section 3 - Minor Issues

Issues other than those listed in ARTICLE V, Section 2, may be decided upon by a simple majority vote of those in attendance at an official general business meeting.

Section 4 - Instrumental/Vocal Issues

Issues pertaining exclusively to instrumental teachers or vocal teachers will only be voted on by the teachers directly involved.  This will be determined by how they have registered themselves with the CCMEA president.

ARTICLE VI        ACTIVITIES

Section 1 - Types of Activities

The CCMEA will support NYSSMA sponsored events and other activities which would be of benefit to the music programs among the member schools.  These activities can include major organization festivals patterned after NYSSMA Area All-0State festivals, ensemble festivals, NYSSMA sponsored solo festival, workshops and exchanges between member schools.  The member schools will host CCMEA major activities based on an alphabetical rotation.  Proposals for the following year’s activities will be presented along with the budget (ARTICLE VII, Section 1) and can be amended during regular business meetings.

ARTICLE VII        BUDGET

Section 1 - Budget

The CCMEA will adopt a budget by the Spring All-County Festival meeting.  Voting will take place as described in ARTICLE V, Section 2.

Section 2 - Participation Fees

Each member school will be assessed a participation fee.  This fee should be sent to the CCMEA treasurer by October 1.

Section 3 - Limits

Once a budget has been adopted, no motion will be entertained which will increase the participation fee of the member schools within that fiscal year.

ARTICLE VIII        RULES OF PROCEDURE

Section 1 - Governing Rules

The preliminary principles set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised Edition, shall govern in all cases not covered by the constitution and by-laws.

CCMEA Constitution

ARTICLE I        DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 - President

The president shall preside at all meetings and shall be responsible for the general administration of the duties of the chief executive officer of the association, including the appointment of committees.  The president shall inform new teachers to the county as to their rights and responsibilities involved with membership in CCMEA and see that new teachers received a copy of the CCMEA handbook.  The president should see that all members are aware of upcoming meetings and events.  The president shall maintain files of letters and programs pertaining to the CCMEA and will be the official representative of the CCMEA at any NYSSMA meetings where county representation is required.  The president shall also serve as chairman of the nominating committee.

Section 2 - Vice-Presidents

(a) If the office of president is vacated during the year, the vice-president with the longest tenure in the county would assume the office of president.  If the office of treasurer is vacated during the year, the vice-president with the shortest tenure in the county would assume the office of treasurer.  (If the vice-presidents have the same tenure in the county, then the vice-president who has served as a CCMEA officer the longest would become president and the one that has served as a CCMEA officer the shortest would become the treasurer.)  The remaining vice-president would assume the roles of both vice-presidents until another vice-president was elected as described in the Constitution ARTICLE III, Section 4-c (other officers).

(b) Vice-president in charge of vocal activities.  This vice-president, in conjunction with the vocal teachers of the member schools, will be responsible for organizing and carrying out the adopted vocal music activities.  These responsibilities may include obtaining directors for the vocal groups, selection of music, and the purchasing, distribution, collection and shipment of that music to the county library.  The vocal vice-president will also be the chairperson of the selection committees for vocal groups.

(c) Vice-president in charge of instrumental activities.  This vice-president, in conjunction with the instrumental teachers of the member schools, will be responsible for organizing and carrying out the adopted instrumental music activities.  These responsibilities may include obtaining directors for the instrumental groups, selection of music, and the purchasing, distribution, collection and shipment of that music to the county library.  The instrumental vice-president will also be the chairperson for the selection committees for instrumental groups.

Section 3 - Treasurer

The treasurer will be responsible for all financial dealings of the CCMEA.  These may include 10 disseminating allocation information to member schools, 20 accepting money from participation fees and gate receipts, 30 paying CCMEA bills and conductor fees, and 4) the preparation of financial reports.  The treasurer along with the president shall countersign all checks.

Section 4 - Secretary

The secretary shall keep an accurate record of attendance and minutes of all general business meetings.  A copy of minutes should be sent to each member as soon as possible after each meeting.  The secretary shall conduct the official correspondence of the association not falling within the specific province of the other offices.  The secretary will also perform other duties as the president may direct.

ARTICLE II        DUTIES OF CHAIRMEN

Section 1 - All-County Festival Chairman

The teachers of the host school will be responsible for the logistical arrangements of the festival.  See Organization Plan For All-County Festivals in the information section of the CCMEA handbook.

Section 2 - Solo Festival Chairman

Appointed by the president.  See Organization Plan For Solo Festivals in the information section of the CCMEA handbook.

Section 3 - County PR Person

Appointed by the president, this person will be responsible for all public relations and should also work with the NYSSMA PR system.

Section 4 - Membership

Appointed by the president, this person will be responsible for updating the county directory listing the schools of Cayuga County and the names and addresses of all members of the CCMEA.  Copies of the directory shall be distributed free of charge to schools, members of the CCMEA, and NYSSMA zone representatives.

Section 5 - County Librarian

Responsible for keeping updated listing of the county music library and making these lists available to the county music teachers and to the All-County directors.

Section 6 - Nominating committee

The chairman will form a nominating committee of not less than three people by February 1st.

ARTICLE III        AUDITION PROCEDURES

Section 1 - Audition Procedures

Audition procedures shall be established as needed and included in the CCMEA handbook.  These standards shall emphasize both balance for the performing groups and fair representation to the member schools.

ARTICLE IV        OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

Section 1 - CCMEA Handbook

The president will maintain, update and disseminate to all schools and new CCMEA members, a copy of the CCMEA handbook.  This handbook should include a copy of the constitution, policies, All-County selection procedures, forms, directory, library listings and other necessary information.

ARTICLE V        CODE OF ETHICS

Section 1 - Agreement

The members of the CCMEA shall follow the code of ethics mutually prepared by the NYSSMA and the New York State Conference of Musicians, the state branch of the American Federation of Musicians.  A copy of this code will be included in the information section of the CCMEA handbook.  CCMEA members also agree to abide by the CCMEA constitution, by-laws, policies, and procedures as established by the CCMEA.

Section 2 - Discipline

The officers of CCMEA will be responsible for enforcing the Articles and by-laws of the CCMEA Constitution, as well as the policies and procedures established by the CCMEA.  Flagrant violations may be dealt with by appropriate disciplinary measures up to a one year suspension of the member school.

ARTICLE VI        RATIFICATION

Section 1 - Ratification

This constitution will be ratified and in force when approved by a majority of the active members.  This constitution shall not be retroactive.

CCMEA By-Laws

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